Atlas Project 2: Npc Stats

As part of the Atlas of Cerilia project, there will be full descriptions and stats for a variety of major NPCs, basically all those regent who are marked down as not recommended for players will have a full description and everyone else will have something similar to what was done in the original material.

The reasoning behind this is quite simple. NPC are meant to be the PC’s opponents, so their stats are important. Everyone else is a possible PC regent, so it is up to the DM or player to create their stats.

From Anuire the following NPC regent will have full stats.
The Spider (Awnsheghlien Fighter 13, see Blood Enemies book)
Aeric Boeruine (Anuirean Fighter 12)
Rhuobhe Manslayer (Awnsheghlien Fighter 16/Sorcerer 13)
Darien Avan (Anuirean Noble 6/Fighter 3)
Gavin Tael (Anuirean Fighter 9)
Daeric Mhoried (Anuirean Fighter 2/Ranger 5)
Caliedhe Dosiere (Anuirean Noble 4/Wizard 16)
The Gorgon (see BRCS)
The Hand of Azrai (Vos Cleric 16)
The Eyeless One (?? Wizard 9)
Godar Thurinson (Dwarven Fighter 6)
Razzik Fanggrabber (Goblin Fighter 4)
Tie’skar Graecher (Goblin Fighter 7)
Kral Two-Toes (Goblin Priest 6)
Mheallie Bireon (Anuirean Rogue 8)
The Chimaera (Awnsheghlien Wizard 13)
Jaison Raenech (Anuirean Fighter 7)

So if you would like your chance to help out with the Atlas of Cerilia, here it is. I’ll set the due date for any submission as the end of the month. All submissions are to be using the 3.5 rules (download the SRD if you don’t have them).

As before all submission are to either be posted on this thread or sent directly to dmdarkstar@yahoo.com

Oh, and I almost forgot. To keep everything simple, I’d like all submissions to be in the following format (taken from the submissions to dungeon document). The final format may vary somewhat, but this version has all the information that will make it into the final Atlas. A description of the character (3-5 paragraphs only) may also be included, but this is optional.

Classed creature’s or NPC’s name, [Gender] [Race] [Class abbreviation
& level]: CR #; [Size] [type] [(subtype)]; HD #d# [(creature kind)] plus
#d# [(class abbreviation)]; or (for NPC) #d#; hp #; Init #; Spd # ft.[, second
movement mode # ft. ([maneuverability for aerial movement]); AC #,
touch #, flat-footed # [[AC modifiers]]; Atk +# melee [(weapon stats,
attack type)] or +# ranged [(weapon stats, attack type)]; Face/Reach [if
other than 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.]; SA [Short descriptions of special attacks,
complex descriptions go under Special Attacks]; SQ [Short descriptions
of special abilities, complex descriptions go under Special Qualities]; SR
#; AL [alignment abbreviation]; SV Fort +#, Ref +#, Will +#; Str #, Dex #,
Con #, Int #, Wis #, Cha #.

Skills and Feats:List skills in alphabetical order and provide the skill
modifier (in the form +#) for each one. Modifiers that apply in special
circumstances are explained in parentheses immediately after the base
modifier. List feats in alphabetical order after skills, separating this list
from the skill list with a period.

Special Ability name or Special Quality name (Ex/Su/Sp): description
of appropriate ability or quality here. Separate each special ability
or special quality into a new paragraph, as is done in the Monster
Manualentries.

Possessions:[Items worn or carried].

Physical Description:(if significant) [Details about appearance]
Spells Prepared(#/#/#; base DC = # + spell level): 0—[cantrip, cantrip
(2)]; 1st—[first, first;] 2nd—[second].

OR (if cleric)

Spells Prepared(#/#/#; base DC = # + spell level): 0—[orison, orison
(2)]; 1st—[first*, first;] 2nd—[second*, second].
*Domain spell. Domains: [Domain (granted power); Domain (granted
power)].

OR

Spells Known(#/#/#; base DC = # + spell level): 0—[cantrip, cantrip];
1st—[first, first]; 2nd—[second].

AND (with Spells Prepared)

Spellbook:0—[cantrip, cantrip , cantrip, cantrip, cantrip]; 1st—[first,
first, first, first]; 2nd—[second, second, second]; 3rd—[third, third, third].

Example:

Skurge Dwarfbane, Male Troll Bbn3: CR 8; Large Giant; HD 6d6+36
(troll) plus 3d12+18 (Bbn); hp 101; Init +6; Spd 40 ft.; AC 18, touch 11,
flat-footed 16 [[+7 natural, +2 Dex, –1 size]]; Atk +12 melee (1d6+6, 2
claws), +7 melee (1d6+3, bite) or +12/+7 melee (1d12+9/x3, greataxe) or
+12/+7 melee (1d10+9 subdual, large sap); Face/Reach 5 ft. by 5 ft./10 ft.;

SA rage, rend; SQ uncanny dodge, regeneration, scent (detects living
creatures within 30 ft.); AL CN; SV Fort +14, Ref +3, Will +5; Str 23, Dex
14, Con 23, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6. Height 8 ft.

Skills: Jump +8, Listen +5, Spot +5. Feats: Alertness, Improved
Initiative, Iron Will.

Rage (Ex):During his rage, Skurge has the following statistics instead
of those given above: +18 hp, AC 16 (touch 9, flat-footed 14); Atk
+14/+14/+9 melee (1d6+8, 2 claws; 1d6+4, bite) or +11 melee
(1d12+12/x3, greataxe) or +11 melee (1d10+12 subdual, large sap); SV Fort
+16, Will +7; Str 27, Con 27. Skills: Jump +10. The rage lasts 11 rounds,
after which time the troll is fatigued. Skurge can rage once per day.

Rend (Ex): If a troll hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the
opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an
additional 2d6+9 points of damage.

Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to a troll. If a
troll loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes.
The creature can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to
the stump.

Possessions:Greataxe with three gems embedded in the handle (500
gp, 100 gp, and 50 gp respectively), large leather sack containing six severed
dwarf heads (can be used as a large sap, inflicting 1d10+9 points of
subdual damage).

Spells prepared? Under what circumstances? Political? Adventuring? The most likely situation PC’s will find them in?

It might be better to present the major NPCs in a tactics round by round format like that used in the 3.5 MM for the significant monsters. For example (from MM, Demon- Balor)

Tactics Round by Round
Prior to combat: Unholy aura
Round 1: Fire Storm or implosion and quickened telekinesis, or summon additional demons. If the balor does not deem itself seriously threatened, it conserves abilities usable only once per day and uses blaphemy instead.
Round 2: Insanity or power word stun
Round 3: Full melee attack with weapon, including entangle with whip
Round 4: Teleport or fly away with entangled foe to reestablish range; repeat round 1 and continue

A balor who wants to drive off or neutralize a party without slaying its foes avoids lethal attack.
Prior to combat: Unholy aura
Round 1: Dominate monster
Round 2: Pwer word stun
Round 3: Insanity or telekinesis to incapacitate or repel a dangerous opponent
Round 4: Teleport or fly away to reestablish range; repeat round 1 and continue

It might be better to present the major NPCs in a tactics round by round format like that used in the 3.5 MM for the significant monsters.

Is all of that really necessary to be included in the Atlas? I for one prefer not to have standardized, predictable behavior from NPC’s, especially when players might be reading the descriptions (whether they should be or not). Writing up specifics like that really takes away a DM’s creativity and encourages thinking within a generic box.

If all the other stats are written up for a PC, is it really unreasonable to expect a DM to write out a spell list based on the adventure situation?

I think it’s important to keep a resource like the Atlas somewhat flexible and open-ended in this sense. If a module-type adventure were being published, that would be a different situation. There you have story context in which to base spell lists, tactics, etc.

In the Atlas, I think a character description should suffice as a set of guidelines for a DM thinking about tactics. The “round-by-round tactics” seems more like a “how to” guide for dealing with power gamers by min-maxxing the NPC’s. Combat starts looking like a D&D computer game at that point, with the monsters providing repetitive, somewhat predictable challenges. I’d rather not see Birthright go the way of the Munchkin.

Osprey

I have to say that I agree with Osprey on this. The round by round canned tactics seem very munchkinish to me and I for one wouldn’t even use them.
If that’s the way things are dealt with in the new 3.5 edition, I have to say that that’s just one more reason for me not to invest the $90 in a whole new set of rules that are only somewhat different than 3E.

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003, irdeggman wrote:

> It might be better to present the major NPCs in a tactics round by round

> format like that used in the 3.5 MM for the significant monsters. For

> example (from MM, Demon- Balor)

You`re kidding, right? These are the peers of the PCs, to be schemed

against and competed with, not to be Buff-Scried-Teleported and smacked

down.

–

Daniel McSorley

A Dm can change whatever he needs to, to fit in his campaign. I, (as either DM or player) for one, prefer Stats and Spells to work from. I don’t usually follow all the things presented, but I like to have the original to work from…
I think its a good reminder (direction) of how things should be as the base (the intention of the NPC’s role in Birthright for example)… and allows more time for creativity. (If you have a few hours to work on a character, you can spend it on his stats and skills or you can spend it bringing him to life by writing up his motivations, passions, hates and yearnings. Not to mention fleshing out his travels, his bastards, his hobbies…)
For both PC’s and NPC’s.
Which, I think, leads to a more interesting game.

Allthough, listing all the spells per round like:

Tactics Round by Round
Prior to combat: Unholy aura
Round 1: Fire Storm or implosion and quickened telekinesis, or summon additional demons. If the balor does not deem itself seriously threatened, it conserves abilities usable only once per day and uses blaphemy instead.
Round 2: Insanity or power word stun
Round 3: Full melee attack with weapon, including entangle with whip
Round 4: Teleport or fly away with entangled foe to reestablish range; repeat round 1 and continue

Seems a bit obsessive to me…

This is for gee whiz - but it is a write up that I have on hand and could easily be morphed into someone else. The PrC is from Dynasties and Demagouges.

Chamberlain Dosiere, human male Aris 5/ Ftr 2/ Politician 10; HD 10d4 + 5d8 + 2d10 + 16; hp 71; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10; Atk +12/+7 (1d8 + 5 Throneguard); SA Aura of Power, Blooded, Compelling Promise, Matching Speech, Personal Touch, Public Appeal, Public Support, Quid Pro Quo, Satisfying Ambiguity, Seniority, Sense of the Room; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +14; Str 12, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 15, Cha 19

Skills: Administration +11, Appraise +7, Bluff +14, Climb +4, Diplomacy +20, Gather Information +13, Intimidate +9, Jump +4, KS: Arcana +6, KS: Architecture +5, KS: Blood Lore +6, KS: Geography +10, KS: History +11, KS: Law +13, KS: Local +12, KS: Religion +8, Lead +12, Listen +2, Perform (Music) +7, Perform (Oratory) +15, Ride +7, Sense Motive +13, Spot +2, Swim +5, Warcraft +8

Feats: Alertness, Commanding Voice, Inspired Leader, Information Network, Leadership, Mounted Combat, Skill Focus – Diplomacy, Weapon Focus – Long Sword. (Need one more).

Aura of power (Su): Any character who can see and hear Dosiere must make a Will save (DC 29) to voice disagreement with him or to disobey his direct commands while in his presence. This is a mind affecting, charm-like power.

Compelling Promise: Dosiere gains a +2 influence bonus to Diplomacy checks when he makes a promise to be fulfilled later. He is not required to fulfill the promise but frequent failure will result in a penalty as he develops a reputation for empty promises.

Matching Speech: Dosiere inspires confidence and trust by speaking in the same manner as the person he is trying to influence. This grants him a +2 reaction bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate and Perform (Oratory) checks.

Personal Touch: When Dosiere greets someone, he may make a KS: Local check (DC 15) to remember a flattering detail about them. If he succeeds at this check, he may bring it up to gain a +2 bonus to a single Bluff, Diplomacy, or Sense Motive check.

Public Appeal: Once per day, Dosiere may compel an audience of up to 500 people to perform a simple, non-violent task for him. He must speak to the audience for at least 10 minutes and must succeed at a Perform (Oratory) check (DC 25).

Public Support: Dosiere can rally the people to his cause. He must speak with an audience for 30 minutes. He must succeed at a Perform (Oratory) check (DC 15 +1 for each 100 members in the audience). If he succeeds, he gains a +1 competence bonus for each 100 members of the audience. He may use the bonus for any one Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Perform (Oratory) check on any matter on which the opinion of the Audience has any bearing. He must use this bonus within 24 hours of receiving it.

Sense of the Room: Dosiere may make a Sense Motive check (DC 18) to learn the needs and goals of a group of people. Each attempt requires ten minutes of conversation with the members of the group. If the check is successful, he understands what each person hopes to accomplish and why.

Need to figure his sword and listed items into the mix.

Are all of Dosiere’s powers based on the politician class? I take it that is a prestige class, yeah? Dynasties and Demagogues? What is that?

Osprey

Should quickly make the point that all characters should use classes and prestige classes availible in the core rulebooks only (as most people have a copy, or can download SRD).

Prestiges classes from other product, while they may fit the character, can’t be used because not everyone has that product. I personally, only have the core rulebooks and 2 other books and I imagine there are a lot of other people out there in a similar sitution.

----- Original Message -----

From: “Eosin” <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>

Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 4:41 PM

> Chamberlain Dosiere, human male Aris 5/ Ftr 2/ Politician 10

When I find myself giving a character like this Ftr 2, I try to remember to

step back and ask why. Is this the underpowered aristocrat from the DMG, so

the F2 adds some feats? Otherwise, the only difference is the exchange of a

+1 Will for a +3 Fort. Both an Ar7 and an Ar5/F2 have a +5 BAB. Since a

character must begin with Aristocrat, Dosiere started with access to all

simple and martial weapons and armors. So, why not just make him an

Aristocrat 7/ Politician 10?

You gave Dosiere a +14 Bluff, which I take means he has 10 or 14 ranks of

Bluff. My own thoughts on Bluff is that Anuireans are not good at bluff,

the pious are actually bad a bluffing, and that generally bluff is an

underused part of the Anuirean leader`s bag of tricks. One of the most

serious charges against honor would be to be called a liar, and bluffing is

just that. Putting aside claims of Dosiere as exceptional, its just not

typically something I attach to Anuireans of aristocratic or Haelynite

backround. Given Dosiere`s solid Diplomacy, Oratory, and Intimidate skills,

why would he bother with falsity, deception, and dishonorable speech?

Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com

----- Original Message -----

From: “Raesene Andu” <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>

Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 10:07 PM

> Prestiges classes from other product, while they may fit the character,

> can`t be used because not everyone has that product.

While this obviously makes sense, abandoning Dynasties and Demagogues really

hurts. It is so very useful for games about politics.

Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com

Good point on the FTR to Aris move. I honestly can`t say why I went with the

FTR (he was written up shortly after the book came out). I suspect it was a

few feats to round out his combat. This is the underpowered Aris from the

DMG.

Bluff would also be used to conceal motive - something that the Chamberlain

must do on occasion. I do see your point though and had never thought of it.

PS Ospery: yes, all the stuff comes from the PrC Diplomat. This class is

found in Dynasties and Demagogues by Atlas.

Eosin

Chamberlain Dosiere, human male Aris 5/ Ftr 2/ Politician 10

When I find myself giving a character like this Ftr 2, I try to remember

to

step back and ask why. Is this the underpowered aristocrat from the DMG,

so

the F2 adds some feats? Otherwise, the only difference is the exchange of

a

+1 Will for a +3 Fort. Both an Ar7 and an Ar5/F2 have a +5 BAB. Since a

character must begin with Aristocrat, Dosiere started with access to all

simple and martial weapons and armors. So, why not just make him an

Aristocrat 7/ Politician 10?

You gave Dosiere a +14 Bluff, which I take means he has 10 or 14 ranks of

Bluff. My own thoughts on Bluff is that Anuireans are not good at bluff,

the pious are actually bad a bluffing, and that generally bluff is an

underused part of the Anuirean leader`s bag of tricks. One of the most

> serious charges against honor would be to be called a liar, and bluffing

is

> just that. Putting aside claims of Dosiere as exceptional, its just not

> typically something I attach to Anuireans of aristocratic or Haelynite

> backround. Given Dosiere`s solid Diplomacy, Oratory, and Intimidate

skills,

> why would he bother with falsity, deception, and dishonorable speech?

>

> Kenneth Gauck

> kgauck@mchsi.com

>

>

>

> Birthright-l Archives:

http://oracle.wizards.com/archives/birthright-l.html

>

>

[b]> Chamberlain Dosiere, human male Aris 5/ Ftr 2/ Politician 10

When I find myself giving a character like this Ftr 2, I try to remember to
step back and ask why. Is this the underpowered aristocrat from the DMG, so
the F2 adds some feats? Otherwise, the only difference is the exchange of a
+1 Will for a +3 Fort. Both an Ar7 and an Ar5/F2 have a +5 BAB. Since a
character must begin with Aristocrat, Dosiere started with access to all
simple and martial weapons and armors. So, why not just make him an
Aristocrat 7/ Politician 10?

You gave Dosiere a +14 Bluff, which I take means he has 10 or 14 ranks of
Bluff. My own thoughts on Bluff is that Anuireans are not good at bluff,
the pious are actually bad a bluffing, and that generally bluff is an
underused part of the Anuirean leaders bag of tricks. One of the most serious charges against honor would be to be called a liar, and bluffing is just that. Putting aside claims of Dosiere as exceptional, its just not typically something I attach to Anuireans of aristocratic or Haelynite backround. Given Dosieres solid Diplomacy, Oratory, and Intimidate skills,
why would he bother with falsity, deception, and dishonorable speech?

Kenneth Gauck
[/b]

First off, although your points abouit lying are well taken, it is simply a necessity of politics (especially politics in the Imperial Court) to be able to conceal one’s motives. It’s bad to be caught lying, but simply concealing the whole truth? Isn’t Dossiere a master of manipulating people (like Avan and Boeruine)? Diplomacy will only get you so far if your motives are all clean and transparent. No, when dealing with the vipers snapping at the Imperial Throne, Dossiere would have worked on every trick in the book. Especially if he is a lot older than a normal human…

As for the Ar/Ftr thing…

The original (2e) Dossiere was a Fighter12/Diviner16. Did that just get tossed out the window? Now he’s a pure beauracrat? Not nearly as interesting, IMO. His combination of magic and strong combat abilities made him a real bad-ass with a lot of tricks up his sleeves. I know you can’t do a straight level conversion into 3e rules, but how DO you convert this kind of thing? Especially with dual classes, who are very similar to 3e multiclsses?

A simple solution for the Ari/Ftr thing is to trade them both off for the Noble class in the BRCS. This is basically the Aristocrat with a few bonus feats (1st, 4th, 8th levels, etc.) and a slightly better skill list to make them more viable as a PC class. As an 8th level Noble, Dossiere would have good fighting skills (BAB +6/+1, Simple & Martial Weapons, Light and Med. Armor) and 3 bonus feats to be chosen from a nice array of possibilities.

I think it would be good to use the BRCS stuff as part of the NPC stats in the Atlas, showing some consistency between the publications from BR.net.

Osprey

Originally posted by kgauck@Sep 16 2003, 08:42 PM
[b]
While this obviously makes sense, abandoning Dynasties and Demagogues really

hurts. It is so very useful for games about politics.

[/b]

Who makes this book? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it, or seen if for that matter…but I may have to get it.lol.
Karen

At 06:59 PM 9/17/2003 +0200, Osprey wrote:

>A simple solution for the Ari/Ftr thing is to trade them both off for the

>Noble class in the BRCS. This is basically the Aristocrat with a few

>bonus feats (1st, 4th, 8th levels, etc.) and a slightly better skill list

>to make them more viable as a PC class. As an 8th level Noble, Dossiere

>would have good fighting skills (BAB +6/+1, Simple & Martial Weapons,

>Light and Med. Armor) and 3 bonus feats to be chosen from a nice array of

>possibilities.

One of the things that always troubled me about the original BR texts was

the use of the fighter for so many characters that really should have had

levels in a noble PC class. I`d argue that almost all the regents (at

least a majority) of them described as fighters alone should have at least

some if not all of those levels in a noble PC class in a 3e/3.5 conversion

rather than trying to express them as the somewhat narrow 3e

fighters. Dossiere is IMO a prime example of this kind of character who

should have levels as a noble rather than a fighter.

Gary

----- Original Message -----

From: “Osprey” <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>

Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:59 AM

> First off, although your points abouit lying are well taken, it is

> simply a necessity of politics to be able to conceal one`s motives.

Which can be done by keeping secrets. Discretion is one thing, lying is all

together different.

It`s bad to be caught lying, but simply concealing the whole truth?

Doesn`t require bluffing, it requires not talking about your secrets.

Isn`t Dossiere a master of manipulating people (like Avan and Boeruine)?

> Diplomacy will only get you so far if your motives are all clean and

> transparent.

This is what Machiavelli regards the the problem of the Lion and the Fox.

When I compare Brecht, Khinasi, and Anuirean, I see the Anuirean as most

feline and the Brecht as most lupine. In everyone`s politics these problems

will exist, the question is one of relative degree, Of all Cerilian people,

Anuireans are least likely to make recourse to Bluff and most likely to take

offence to catching someone bluffing. A truism of politics is that lying

works … once. So, once Dosiere is caught in a lie he carries the prestige

of a guilder in the politics of the empire.

No, when dealing with the vipers snapping at the Imperial Throne,

Dossiere would have worked on every trick in the book. Especially

if he is a lot older than a normal human…

Then as far as I am concerned, he is irrevant because no one pays any

attention to him. Either Dosiere has to be so good that he`s never caught,

and largely not even suspected, or he can`t use these tactics. To claim

that Avan and Boeruine aren`t worthy and then to do this kind of stuff is

the height of hypocracy. That`s not my view of the heart of the empire. I

rather see Dosiere as so unreasonably honor-bound that he would never be

satisfied with a human emperor.

A simple solution for the Ari/Ftr thing is to trade them both off for

the Noble class in the BRCS. This is basically the Aristocrat with

a few bonus feats (1st, 4th, 8th levels, etc.)

Why have both? Since we need a viable class for such folks, why continue to

have an inferior NPC version of the class? The reason I specifically asked

about the “underpowered aristocrat from the DMG” was related to this. I

considered a version like the BRCS noble for my Aristocrat, but I felt that

fewer skills and more class features (I have 5 bonus feats to the BRCS` 6)

was they way to go.

http://home.mchsi.com/~kgauck/taelshore/aristocrat.htm

> I think it would be good to use the BRCS stuff as part of the NPC

> stats in the Atlas, showing some consistency between the publications

> from BR.net.

Ultimatly this is why I really can never think very seriously about

submitting anything.

Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com

----- Original Message -----

From: “Vallariel” <brnetboard@BIRTHRIGHT.NET>

Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 12:26 PM

> Who makes this book? I dont think Ive ever heard of it, or seen

> if for that matter…but I may have to get it.lol.

See my review at BR.net at: http://www.birthright.net/read.php?TID=1679

posted on May 26, 2003

http://www.ogrecave.com/reviews/dyn_n_dem.shtml

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9340.phtml

Eosin announced the book on this list back in Dec 6, 02.

Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com

Ultimatly this is why I really can never think very seriously about
submitting anything.

Why not? I’m not sure I understand your reasons here. Are you saying that because you don’t want to submit anything to the Atlas project because you don’t agree with some of the rules from the BRCS? Surely that is rather a spurious argument, by submitting material you help to guide the project in the direction you think it should go.

Remember the only reason the rules in the BRCS were writen the way they were was because those people willing to actually write for the project wrote them that way. If you don’t like them, the write up an alternative and post it so everyone can read it and criticise it.